Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.11: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 11

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः · Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Setting: Ayodhy0 palace courtyards (first to second kṣy0)Places named: Ayodhy0 (implied)Moving inward through palace enclosures

Devanagari script

प्रविश्य प्रथमां कक्ष्यां द्वितीयायां ददर्श सः ।

ब्राह्मणान्वेदसम्पन्नान्वृद्धान्राज्ञाऽभिसत्कृतान् ॥११॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.20.11

Transliteration

praviśya prathamāṃ kakṣyāṃ dvitīyāyāṃ dadarśa saḥ |

brāhmaṇān veda-sampannān vṛddhān rājñā 'bhisatkṛtān ||11||

Translation

पहले दरवाज़े के अंदर गए। दूसरे में देखा, बड़े-बूढ़े ब्राह्मण बैठे हैं। यह लोग वेद के ज्ञानी हैं। राजा ने उनका ख्याल रखा है।

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Word by Word

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) from √विश् with उपसर्ग प्र; अव्ययवत्
• Role: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Anterior action)

• प्रथमाम्: first
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (kakṣyām)
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object)

• कक्ष्याम्: courtyard/inner enclosure
• Type: Noun
• Root: कक्ष्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object)

• द्वितीयायाम्: in the second (courtyard)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (kakṣyām understood)
• Role: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)

• ददर्श: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)

• सः: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)

• ब्राह्मणान्: brahmins
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object)

• वेदसम्पन्नान्: learned in the Vedas, endowed with Vedic knowledge
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद-सम्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त 'सम्पन्न' from √पद्/√पन् (सम्+पद् in sense 'endowed'); समास: तत्पुरुष (वेदेन/वेदैः सम्पन्न)
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• वृद्धान्: aged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (brāhmaṇān)
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object)

• राज्ञा: by the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Agent in passive) / करण (Instrumental agent)

• अभिसत्कृतान्: well-honoured, duly received
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-सत्-कृ (धातु)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) from √कृ with उपसर्ग अभि; 'sat' as intensifier (well-)
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object)

Sandhi Notes

• ब्राह्मणान्वेदसम्पन्नान्वृद्धान् = ब्राह्मणान् + वेदसम्पन्नान् + वृद्धान् (न् + व → न्व)
• राज्ञाऽभिसत्कृतान् = राज्ञा + अभिसत्कृतान् (आ + अ → ’)

Context

With the first courtyard crossed, Rama saw in the second aged brahmins versed in the Vedas, and duly honoured by the king.

The teaching

Royal power is stabilized by honoring Vedic wisdom and elders; humility before learning is itself dharma.

Ethical theme

Č0ra / r0jadharma

For your practice

Model for guru-vandana and respect to 5rotriyas; supports daily practice of humility and seeking counsel before action.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace)

Mood

Orderly, reverent, ritual

Themes

• Dharma
• Brahmana-respect
• Itihasa
• Kingship
• Maryada
• Education

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• brahmins
• Vedas
• the king (Daśaratha implied)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

A key pillar of dharma is honoring wisdom and Vedic learning; the king’s honoring of brahmins reflects righteous governance supporting sacred knowledge.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma moves through successive palace courtyards and encounters respected, elderly Vedic brahmins in the second enclosure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence toward learned elders and the social order that upholds dharma through honoring the wise.